ACT leader David Seymour is threatening to strip Young ACT of their name, as the youth wing of his political party plans to have drug paraphernalia for sale at a university event to promote their new policy.
The Young ACT policy, released on Monday, is to legalise not just cannabis but also LSD or acid, magic mushrooms, and MDMA - the main ingredient in ecstasy.
"This regulated market would allow us to better control who consumes drugs, their potency, and force producers and distributors to provide information regarding the risks and effects of the drugs in question," Young ACT's statement said.
"Young ACT believes that this approach also respects the individual's right to make informed decisions about their life."
But party leader David Seymour told Newshub the policy is not something "you'll see anytime soon" and that legalising drugs is "not a political priority" for him.
Newshub has learned of a stunt Young ACT is planning for Tuesday to have drug paraphernalia available to be bought at their stalls at university clubs week. The youth wing will have Shosha - a store that sells vaping and smoking supplies - present at their stall.
That's news to Seymour.
Young ACT president Felix Poole told Newshub: "We don't consult them on stunts like this, and so we haven't told them what we're doing tomorrow... You've probably heard before them."
A range of products will be sold at the stall including pipes, rolling papers and cream chargers, which are known as nangs or nos. The cream chargers hold nitrous oxide which when inhaled gives users a high. They're not illegal, but not good for you either.
Seymour said if Young ACT goes too far "we'll take away the name".
"I don't support or oppose what they do - that's up to them," Seymour said. "The only thing I'd say to them is that you need to follow the law."
Newshub understands none of the products sold will have ACT Party branding on them, but the youth wing was planning to potentially use Seymour's name to promote their next stunt like this.
They haven't told Seymour about that yet either, and getting his approval for that is probably as unlikely as ACT adopting this extreme drug policy.
Nevertheless, Seymour said he's "glad we're attracting a vibrant youth wing that are pushing edgy ideas" and said his youth group is a "lot more interesting than joining the Young Nats who campaign for a biscuit and a lie-down".
Young ACT is "calling on all political parties to change their stance and endorse this policy".
